United States (U.S.) Authorities have issued arrest warrants for a dozen Turkish security guards involved in a clash outside the Turkish ambassador’s residence in Washington, police said on Thursday.
The clash took place during President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Washington in May.
The members of Erdogan’s security detail are among 18 people facing assault charges following the May 16, clash between anti-Erdogan protesters and Turkish security guards, police said.
Nine protesters were treated for injuries in nearby hospitals.
The Washington Metropolitan Police Department said it had conducted an investigation using video footage of the incident with the State Department and U.S. Secret Service.
The State Department had voiced concern about the incident at the time and Turkey summoned the U.S. ambassador to Ankara over what it claimed were “aggressive and unprofessional actions’’ of U.S. security personnel during the incident.
U.S. Senators John McCain and Dianne Feinstein wrote a letter to Erdogan after the incident, charging that Turkish guards had carried out a “blatant violation’’ of the right to freedom of assembly by attacking “peaceful protestors.’’